Find Lawyers in British Columbia, Canada for Venture Capital Law
Practice Area Overview
Venture capital is financial capital provided to high-risk early or growth stage companies usually in exchange for a solid equity position and significant influence over the management and direction of a company. Companies looking to attract venture capital are often companies aiming to exit via an initial public offering or acquisition, but do not yet have sufficiently predictable cash flows to attract traditional forms of institutional or debt financing.
Many of the companies seeking venture capital operate technology-driven businesses in the areas of information technology, life-sciences and clean energy. Venture capital is provided in large part by venture capital funds (Venture Capitalists), a subdivision of private equity, who typically invest in a curated portfolio of companies within the technology space. Because companies in this space present high-risk high-reward investment opportunities, Venture Capitalists demand sufficient control in a company and its strategic direction in an effort to maximize and protect investment potential. Practically, such control manifests by way of board seats, veto rights on major business and share capital decisions, and the ability to recover a Venture Capitalist’s investment in certain circumstances.
Venture capital law encompasses the broad range of legal services related to the provision, composition and maintenance of venture capital funding, and the many considerations companies and Venture Capitalists must address when involving Venture Capitalists in the ownership and management of a company’s business. Lawyers providing advice in the area of venture capital law are instrumental in counseling emerging companies and venture capital funds on capital structure, shareholder rights, employment matters, board composition, securities compliance, compensation and incentive plans and the protection of intellectual property. Because many Venture Capitalists are based in the United States, lawyers representing Canadian companies often liaise with foreign securities counsel on cross-border issues. In addition to the need for general private equity expertise, the unique DNA and growth stage of a company seeking venture capital funding necessitates that lawyers practicing venture capital law possess specialized knowledge and experience when dealing in this area.
Jesse Ahuja is a partner at MEP Business Counsel. As a member of the firm since its founding, Jesse has focused exclusively on the formation, financing and mergers & acquisitions of private enterprises. While his clients span a broad range of industries (technology, manufacturing, logistics, professional services, hospitality, food & beverage, e-commerce, retail and financial services, among others), the underlying commonality is that all are privately held growth companies or their i...
Karam Bayrakal is a business lawyer in Vancouver, and co-leader of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications group, who focusses in the areas of information technology, online services, interactive media, emerging technology and intellectual property. He is involved in the related issues around cyber security, privacy and confidentiality. Global and regional technology clients want Karam for his advice on the strategic, legal and commercial aspects of acquiring, developing and transferring...
Ally Bharmal is a corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate/commercial and board governance Partner based in the Vancouver office. Ally works with clients across the business life-cycle; from start-up and incorporation matters, seed and growth stage financing, to complex M&A, strategic investment, venture capital and private equity transactions. Ally has particular expertise in the technology industry, and the food, beverage and agribusiness industry, and co-l...
Jon Conlin is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Group, Private Equity & Venture Capital Group and Technology Group. Jon’s practice includes a wide range of complex business transactions; with a focus on M&A, strategic investments, private equity transactions and related corporate law matters. He also advises high-growth technology companies, founders and venture capital funds on private financings and other strategic transactions. Further, Jon regularly advis...
Prentice Durbin is a partner with the Firm’s Business Law Group. His practice involves advising entrepreneurs at any stage, from start-up and early growth to large-scale established businesses, in a wide variety of corporate/commercial and securities issues. He focuses on stimulating creativity and growth, helping businesses thrive, and providing counsel, guidance and practical solutions to his clients. Practical Solutions for Complicated Markets Prentice is known for his practical appr...
Steven Lukas, Associate Counsel, is co-chair of Harper Grey's Business Law Group. Known for his innovative and “out of the box” thinking and client focused solutions, Steven works closely with many entrepreneurs and corporations of all sizes and maturity, providing general legal advice on a broad range of corporate matters. He provides strategic counsel in the complex aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including divestitures and negotiated acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic...
Shahrooz Nabavi is a corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate/commercial lawyer with an active transaction-oriented practice. He is primarily focused on technology and knowledge-based industries, representing emerging and growth stage Canadian companies and institutional, venture capital and private equity investors and acquirers of such companies. Representing companies in a broad range of corporate transactional matters, including formation, venture capital financings, priv...
As a member of the Technology and Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Fasken’s Vancouver office, Geoff advises emerging companies and the investors that fund them in connection with early-stage, venture capital, growth equity, private equity and M&A transactions. Focusing on the technology sector, Geoff advises entrepreneurs, start-ups and venture-backed technology companies, from ideation through business organization, capital raising and exit. Geoff provides a broad range of pragm...
Formerly DuMoulin Black’s Managing Partner, J. Douglas Seppala now acts as special counsel. He practises in the areas of corporate and securities law and has extensive experience advising private and public companies domestically and internationally in various transactions, including venture capital and private equity financing, cross border financings, public offerings, stock exchange listings, private placements, take-over bids, mergers and corporate reorganizations, shareholders/prox...
Ben is a business lawyer with over 20 years’ experience representing clients on M&A, private equity, angel and venture capital transactions, and a host of other business law matters. Ben is also an active investor, and is currently Chair of two tech-based companies and a Co-Chair of Tiger 21 (North America’s preeminent peer learning group for successful, active entrepreneurs who are stewarding personal wealth of $10MM and greater ( www.tiger21.com )). Clients include business ...
Jason practices corporate and securities law with a primary focus on mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial arrangements, including joint ventures, corporate finance and corporate law. Jason has extensive experience advising boards of directors and special committees on mergers and acquisitions (hostile and negotiated), corporate governance and shareholder activism. As a senior partner, Jason focuses on providing strategic advice on complex, high-impact transactions. Jason advises entre...
Andrew assists domestic and international clients on a broad range of corporate legal matters with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate transactions. He has experience advising public and private companies and private equity funds on share and asset acquisitions and dispositions, reorganizations, financings and various other corporate proceedings. Andrew also regularly drafts and reviews commercial agreements including shareholders agreements, confidentiality agreemen...
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